"He
uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts - for support rather
than for illumination." ~Andrew Lang

Course
Objectives / Big Questions:

You have probably heard the saying `Statistics can be made to prove anything - even the truth.'
In fact, statistics is a very powerful collection of tools used to measure
the certainty of our inferences and reveal patterns and trends obfuscated by natural
variation. Statistical analysis is only as valid as the data and assumptions which go into it.
Used incorrectly or without context, statistical results are meaningless.
In this class we will learn to use statistics for illumination. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

Understand when and how to apply standard statistical
techniques

Use statistics to make informed decisions in their other
classes and in their everyday lives

Design, implement, and statistically analyze the results of an
experiment or survey